From the invention of the wheel, to the creation of the light bulb, to the advent of the cellphone—each leap in technology makes our lives easier. Smart home technology is the newest innovation to come along and improve our lives. Now you can check who’s at your door while you’re at work, schedule your lights to match your daily routine, and let friends into your home without having to make extra keys. Best Buy wants your home to be a well-oiled machine that offers convenience, security, and can even help you reduce the energy your home uses. That’s why we’re running this contest: We want to give Canadians a chance to win amazing smart home technology. Read on to find out how (and what!) you might win.
Smart home security
Making your home safer is easier than ever. Consider security cameras. There was a time when installing security cameras required professional help and a hefty fee. Now, however, most people can easily install their own smart home cameras. Options range from battery-powered, light-fixture powered, and AC-powered, so you can match your cameras to their location and desired use.
Smart cameras stream footage over your home’s existing Wi-Fi to the compatible app on your smart phone. Some models even offer the ability to engage in two-way conversation, and most offer real-time movement alerts. This means that no matter where you are, you can keep an eye on your home and be assured that all is well.
Also gone are the days of the unsightly, conspicuous, wired security camera; today’s smart home security cameras are sleek and unobtrusive. But don’t let their diminutive size fool you. Many models, like the Logitech Circle 2, the Nest Cam, and the Arlo Pro 2 can capture an up to 180-degree field of view in 1080p HD resolution and boast night-vision to boot.
And because the cameras are so small, they’re easily portable. You can place them wherever you need. For example, use one to keep a watchful eye on your children as they play outside, or on your new puppy while you are at work. You’ll be able to see when he starts to chew your leather shoes and tell him to stop.
Lighting is another way to improve home security and personal safety. Outdoor smart lighting has the advantage of adding ambiance to a garden, deck, or patio while simultaneously making it safer for you to walk around your home on dark winter nights. Of course, outside lights are a great crime deterrent too! Lights from the Philips Hue line offer you the chance to personalize your lighting indoors and out.
With these easily customizable lights, you can use the app on your phone to select from 16 million colours (yes, you read that right) to create just the vibe you want. Choose orange for an eerie Halloween glow, or go for red and green to add Christmas cheer. The rest of the year, they’re ideal for keeping walkways and paths brightly lit. Blog Editor Shelley recently discussed how big of a difference the Philips Hue outdoor product range can make to your home security and appearance, so head on over to read her article to find out more.
Smart Home Convenience
Have you ever locked yourself out of your house? Or received a sheepish call from your spouse as they shiver outside in the cold? With smart locks, like these ones from August, you can stop leaving a key in a flower pot or under the doormat. The August Smart Lock offers keyless entry through your Bluetooth enabled smart phone. The lock senses when you’re approaching the door, so you don’t need to worry about juggling bags of groceries as you search for your keys. You read that right, the door will unlock as you approach it, automatically! Plus, you can buzz people in from your phone and receive alerts when someone enters or when the door is left ajar. Blog reviewer Erin Lawrence tried out the August Smart Lock for herself, and she found it incredibly easy to install and even better to use. You can see for yourself by reading her review.
If you shop online, say from BestBuy.ca, you will love the security and convenience you get with smart cameras and locks at the entrance to your home. With smart cameras like the Logitech Circle, Arlo Pro 2, and Kuna Toucan, you’ll be alerted to movement and can keep an eye on your packages. The August Smart Lock lets you create a temporary key, so your ever-helpful neighbour can place the packages inside for you.
Smart home convenience isn’t just limited to outdoors either. The Lutron Caseta Dimmer Kit allows you to schedule, adjust, and turn-off your lights remotely from your smart phone. This means that you’re only using power when you really need it, which will reduce energy consumption and cut down on your electricity bill. So not only does smart lighting help you to save money, but it also helps you to do your part for the planet.
Kuna makes the Toucan Smart Sconce Lights that offer all the benefits of smart tech with the style of traditional decor. Smart home lighting is also effective as a security tool, as you can use a lighting schedule to give your home a lived-in look when you’re away for extended periods of time. And since smart lights can be controlled via your smart phone, you can dim the lights for movie night without even having to move the popcorn bowl off your lap.
Smart home compatibility
Most smart home brands, including Lutron, August, Philips Hue, and Nest, work with the Google Home Assistant, giving you hands-free control of your lights, locks, cameras, and more. The Google Home and Google Home Mini are handy helpers in their own right, that can play music, tell you the weather, and more. This article by Shelly gives you great ways for the whole family to enjoy using a Google Home or Alexa unit. Excited yet? The grand prize winner will receive a Google Home Mini of their own. But fear not; If you don’t have one already, you can get your own from Best Buy, or shop our selection of other voice assistants and accessories.
HOW TO ENTER
In a comment below, please tell us which of these three smart home benefits is the most important to you: convenience; security; or energy savings. Also tell us which product would most help you to achieve this benefit.
I personally enjoy the convenience aspect of smart home technology and would want the August Smart Lock Pro + Connect as I come from a long line of folks who forget their house keys, and it’s apparently an inheritable trait.
WHAT YOU CAN WIN
We will randomly draw four winners. One person will win the grand prize, one person will win the second prize, one person will win the third prize, and one person will win the fourth prize. The prizes are shown here (and also in the Rules and Regulations posted below).
| Grand Prize | 2nd Prize |
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| 3rd Prize | 4th Prize |
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This contest runs from October 19th until November 2nd.
Remember, you can only enter once. However, you probably know someone who would love to add some incredible smart products to their home, so please share this contest so that they too can have a chance to win one of these prizes.
Enter for a chance to win a Smart Home Prize Package Rules and Regulations
Good Luck.
| We frequently have many contests running at Best Buy, so check out the “contests in progress” page for more great contests to enter. |
The most important is security and the Logitech Circle 2 Wi-Fi Indoor/Outdoor Wire-Free 1080p IP Camera would be elpful.
The most important benefit is security and the product I like is the Arlo Pro 2 Wireless Cameras.
Security is my priority and I would like to install security cameras to help protect the property. I’m fond of the 2 x Logitech Circle 2 Wi-Fi Wire-Free Camera product.
The Arlo Pro 2 Wireless Cameras would be able to eliminate some of my security concerns.
Security. The Kuna Toucan Outdoor Security Camera would be a great addition to our home. Thanks for the chance, Best Buy !
Security is most important to me. I would love to have the Logitech Circle 2 Wi-Fi Wire-Free camera to make my house and surrounding safer!
With two daughters, for my wife and I security is the number one issue.
Smart Home convenience would help me since there has been occasion where I misplaced my keys and even locked my self out a couple of times. But glad I keep a spare key but that is not convenient
Security and we could use some additional lighting from the Philips Hue Ludere PAR38 Smart Outdoor Wall Light.
I like “wire free” security with the 2 x Logitech Circle 2 Wi-Fi Wire-Free Camera. Security is at the top of my list.
Security is most important to me. My condo is isolated and dark so the Arlo Pro 2 would make me feel safer.
The need for security is foremost so the Logitech Circle 2 wi-fi security system would be great for this purpose
Google Home mini is very convenient. I have one right now and don’t let it’s small footprint deceive you it is powerful and cleaverly design. You can issue commands to any compatible connected device with voice commands even from accross the room. I use it as a central hub for my smart home. I can’t wait to add more connected device and link them to my google home for voice commands and to add a google home to every floor of my house.
Security is the most important to me for peace of mind
Security and survalance systems are becoming very popular in to days crime prevention efforts. We wuld certainly like to have one but they are beyond our finaces.
Security is most important. I like Logitech Circle 2 cameras because it has motion detection.
The most important is energy savings because hydro bills are outrageous
The Lutron dimmer kit would be my first choice. Since I constantly here my husband tell the kids to turn off the lights behind themselves this kit would save the family …my sanity 🙂 Dad would love the control from his phone too. Thanks for this incredible chance for All! this convenience!
energy saving by far
Energy savings is the best smart home benefit for me and the Lutron Caseta Dimmer Kit would help preserve energy by allowing me to schedule, adjust, and turn-off my lights remotely from my smart phone .
Security is the most important benefit of smart home products, and Arlo Pro 2 Wireless Cameras will help to achieve that without need of tangling wires around
energy savings is our best perk
Convenience is what makes the arlo pro 2 camera a great asset. I can watch and speak to my kids even away from home.
Energy Saving is most important. This is a feature I look for.
security is important to us
energy savings is important to me
Security is the most important smart home benefit to me because I value so many things in my home that are irreplaceable. The Logitech camera, wired or wire free, would definitely help me achieve this anti-theft security for my home.
A watchful eye on the property would help with my security concern so the 2 x Logitech Circle 2 Wi-Fi Wire-Free Camera would be an ideal choice.
Security is at the top of my list. I would like August Smart Lock Pro + Connect to help keep us secure.
It woould be energy saving specially on winter season, and I think google home would be the main producto to help me achieve a goal of saving energy.
Security would be the most important for my family
Security is the most important to me. Logitech IP cameras would be my first choice.
Security is always in need. whether it’s cameras to see what’s going on or lights turning on to make people think that someone is at home at different times of the day when you are away.
All things tech are my thing but security is key. I would really enjoy the Kuna Toucan Outdoor Security Camera. Knowing I can see what is going on on my phone when I am not home would be so good.
Security is top priority to me. My Husband bought and old second hand, clunky, obtrusive and UGLY outdoor security camera. The quality is horrific, it doesn’t work half the time and it only shows a small portion of our driveway. I would love to win the Kuna Toucan Outdoor Security Camera for my (wanna be) techy husband and the security of my family. We already have a NEST thermostat and love the convenience of connecting to it while we are away. More tech in our home would be amazing!
Security is top priority to me. My Husband bought and old second hand, clunky, obtrusive and UGLY outdoor security camera. The quality is horrific, it doesn’t work half the time and it only shows a small portion of our driveway. I would love to win this for my (wanna be) techy husband and the security of my family. We already have a NEST thermostat and love the convenience of connecting to it while we are away. More tech in our home would be amazing!
Energy savings is a top priority, but I never remember whether I turned the lights our or lowered the heat. Google home would be a great help.
I personally like the security aspect of smart home technology and would want the Logitech Circle 2. I had trespassers or strangers entering my property twice and once they even tried to run away with my bike. So I would prefer to have my house monitored.
Being able to efficiently monitor my home and pet with smart home security would help me fell safe and secure.
Security, as I get older getting around has become a challenge. Security cameras such as the Logitech Circle 2 Wi-Fi Wire-Free Camera would assist a lot with outdoor concerns and also serve a dual purpose of knowing who is coming to my door.
Energy Saving. I would like to get google home to save energy.
Energy Saving is big for me. Philips Hue Lily Smart Outdoor Spot Light Base Kit would be ideal to have to save on energy!
I always forget to put the heat pump on away when we go out.it would save us a lot of money.
Energy Savings is big., sometimes I can’t remember if I unplugged my television or not. Being able to check with Google home would be awesome.
Energy savings and the product that would help me achieve this is the Nest Wi-Fi Smart Learning Thermostat
Energy saving is the most important to me and the Nest Wi-Fi Smart Learning Thermostat 3rd Generation would definitely help with that
Energy Savings is big., sometimes I can’t remember if I shut the coffee perk off or not. Being able to check with Google home would be awesome.
Energy Savings is big., sometimes I can’t remember if I unplugged my curling iron or not. Being able to check with Google home would be awesome.
Energy Savings is big., sometimes I can’t remember if I closed the fridge hard enough, I have left it open and my wife has caught it . Being able to check with Google home would be awesome.
Energy Savings is big. With how hectic life can be I always forget to turn something off or can’t remember if I did. Being able to check with Google home would be awesome.
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